Colors of Columbia in Faces and Landscapes
Photo exhibition by José Miguel Gómez

The Wayuu people, an Indigenous group inhabiting the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia and Venezuela, constitute the largest ethnic group in Colombia. Their language, Wayuunaiki, is considered endangered. Wayuu women are renowned for their mastery of creating vibrant textile crafts—such as woven bags (mochilas) and blankets—which serve as important symbols of their social identity. Wayuu society is organized around clans and extended families that live in small rural settlements called rancherías. The Wayuu way of life is deeply intertwined with the natural environment, a connection reflected in their mythology, folklore, festivals, and rituals—all marked by a profound respect for nature.

The Cabiyari, people of the Arawakan language family, inhabit the Apaporis River basin in Colombia’s Vaupés Department. Today, this small Indigenous group faces serious threats to its language and traditional way of life, yet continues to actively defend its values and ancestral territory. The Cabiyari people traditionally practice subsistence agriculture—mainly cultivating cassava (yuca), sweet potatoes, and plantains, as well as fishing and hunting. One of their most significant cultural symbols is the Yuruparí ritual, associated with the image of a giant anaconda, a central figure in their system of religious beliefs. The Cabiyari possess a rich oral tradition filled with myths and legends, including stories about the origin of the Apaporis River.

The Puinave constitute an Indigenous group native to eastern Colombia, occupying territories in the departments of Guaviare, Vichada, and predominantly Guainía. As well as extending along the Inírida and Guaviare rivers and towards the borders with Venezuela and Brazil. Their culture is deeply connected to the tropical rainforests of the Amazon and is reflected in their practices of agriculture, fishing, hunting, and gathering. The Puinave language, originally known as Iwan, belongs to the Makú–Puinave language family. Today, the Puinave people are making significant efforts to study and pass on their language to future generations, in order to preserve their unique cultural identity and heritage.